JPH01289070A - Solid electrolyte fuel cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a cell of simple structure and high volumetric efficiency by piling up several cells consisting of a porous ceramic substrate, on the both surface of which air electrode, fuel electrode or the like are laminated, through spacers, and flowing fuel gas and air in the respective enclosed spaces. CONSTITUTION:Fuel electrodes 22, air electrodes 23, electrolyte 24, interconnectors 25, protection films 26 and collector leads 27 are laminated on the both surface of a porous ceramic substrate 21 of 50-90% in porosity to construct cells 11a, 11b. These cells are piled up successively through spacers 12, and in the substrate 21 fuel gas F (or air A) and in the space enclosed with the substrate 21 and the spacer 12 air A (or fuel gas F) are flowed respectively to generate electricity. Thereby these cells can be packed 10-100 times more than cylindrical cells to improve the volumetric efficiency, and because of the plate-like structure every member can be produced in a lump to obtain the module structure of high mass productivity easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to improvements in solid electrolyte fuel cell modules.

[Prior Art and Problems] As is well known, solid electrolyte fuel cells (hereinafter referred to as 5OFC) have a cylindrical structure as shown in FIG. 6, or a non-unicam type as shown in FIG. (monolithic) structure is known.

5OFC shown in FIG. 6 has a cell thin film 2 formed on the surface of a cylindrical porous ceramic substrate 1. This battery thin film 2 is a thin film structure in which a fuel electrode (or air electrode), a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode (or fuel electrode) are sequentially laminated. In this 5OFC, fuel gas (or air) is inside the base 1.
Generate electricity by flowing air (or fuel gas) to the outside,
The current then flows through the flow path as indicated by the arrow in the figure.

The 5OFC shown in FIG. 7 is one in which the battery thin film 3 itself as described above forms, for example, a honeycomb-shaped block.

In this 5OFC, fuel gas is supplied to the area indicated by F in the figure, and
Air is flowed into the areas indicated by . The current then flows through the flow path as indicated by the arrow in the figure.

However, although the cylindrical 5OFC has a simple structure, the effective battery area per unit volume is small;
Volumetric efficiency is low.

On the other hand, a honeycomb type 5O shown in FIG. 7 or similar to this
In the case of FC, although high volumetric efficiency can be achieved as a base, since the entire structure is formed from the battery thin film 3 itself, there are problems in terms of strength and assembly, and in fact, even a prototype has not been completed. Also,
It is quite difficult to manufacture due to its complicated shape. especially,
Because of its laminated structure, it is nearly impossible to manufacture large-sized ones from a sintering perspective.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid electrolyte fuel cell module that has a simple structure like the conventional cylindrical type and has good volumetric efficiency like the honeycomb type. With the goal.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention comprises a cell by laminating an air electrode, a fuel electrode, an electrolyte, and an interconnector on both sides of a porous ceramic substrate, and this cell is connected to a spacer for passage of fuel gas or air. Stack the fuel gas into the substrate or into the substrate, an area surrounded by spacers.

The gist is to allow air to pass through each.

[Function] According to the present invention, the effective area of the battery is reduced by 10% in the same volume compared to a cylindrical 5OFC.
It can be packed up to 100 times more, increasing volumetric efficiency.

■Since it has a plate-like structure, each component such as the fuel electrode, air electrode, and electrolyte can be formed all at once, making it excellent for mass production.

■Since it has a plate-like structure, it is easy to configure the module.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a 5OFC module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

lla and llb in the figure are cells, respectively. A plurality of spacers 12 are provided between these cells lla and llb. Here, the spacer 12 is arranged so as to be located on the protective film of the cell, so that the air electrode or fuel electrode constituting the cell comes into contact with air or fuel gas as much as possible. Furthermore, a passage plate 13 is provided on the cell 11a with a spacer 12 interposed therebetween. Here, fuel gas F (or air A) passes through the cells 11a and llb as shown by (solid line) arrows, and the cells 11a and llb pass through.

Air A (or fuel gas F) is allowed to pass through the area surrounded by cell 11b (or cell 11a1 passage plate 13) and spacer 12. Note that fuel gas F and air A may be passed through as shown by the (dotted line) arrow. Also, in the case of Fig. 1, the fuel gas F and air A flow in parallel,
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the fuel gas F and the air A may be allowed to flow across each other, or may be allowed to flow oppositely.

The cells lla and llb are as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. Reference numeral 21 in the figure is a porous ceramic substrate through which the fuel gas F or air A passes. Specifically, this substrate 21 is made of, for example, alumina, CS Z (Calcium S t
ab1] 1zcd Z 1reonla) etc. Thickness 500p to 51 with a certain strength
The porosity of the plate is approximately 50 to 90%.

Fuel electrodes 22. are provided on both sides of the substrate 21. Air electrode 23, electrolyte 24. An interconnector 25 and a protective film 26 are appropriately formed to constitute a cell.

Note that 27 in the figure is a lead. Here, the fuel electrode 22 has a thickness of 100p to IIIm, and is made of Ni-based cermet,
Co-based cermet or ordered Ni, Co, etc. are used.

The air electrode 23 has a thickness of 100p to 1cm, and is made of an oxide conductive material having a perovskite crystal structure. As the material of the electrolyte 24, Y S Z (Yttrla S
tabili, zed Z 1rconla).

Types such as Ce type, Bi type, etc. are used. The interconnector 2
5. Lead 27 must be resistant to both reduction and oxidation, such as NI Cr, NI A, and NiA.

In addition to heat-resistant and oxidation-resistant alloys such as Fe Ni Co, La Cr
Perovskites with strong reduction resistance such as O3 are also used.

Note that the cell has a striped structure in which current flows in the direction along the plate thickness, similar to the cylindrical striped cell (see FIG. 4).

According to the embodiment described above, fuel electrodes 22. Air electrode 23, electrolyte 24
and interconnectors 25 are laminated as appropriate to constitute a cell,
A plurality of such cells are stacked with spacers 12 in between, and fuel gas (or air) is passed through the base 21, and air (or It is configured to allow fuel gas (fuel gas) to pass through. Therefore, ■The effective area of the battery is 10% compared to the cylindrical 5OFC for the same volume.
It can be packed up to 100 times more, increasing volumetric efficiency.

■Since it has a plate-like structure, the fuel electrode 22. Air electrode 23° Electrolyte 2
Each member such as 4 can be formed at once, and is excellent in mass productivity.

■Since it has a plate-like structure, it is easy to configure the module.

■Module current collection is easy because current can be collected at both ends of the cell.

■Even if a part of the module is damaged, maintenance is easy.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it has a simple structure like the conventional cylindrical type, and has various excellent effects such as good volumetric efficiency like the honeycomb type. A solid electrolyte fuel cell module having the following can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a 5OFC module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of cells constituting the module, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing the flow of current in the cell in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 in the cell in Fig. 1.
A perspective view to explain the gas flow different from that of the 5OFC module shown in the figure, Figures 6 and 7 are respectively the conventional 5OFC module.
FIG. 11a, 1lb-- Cell, 12... Spacer, 2
1... Ceramic substrate, 22... Fuel electrode, 23
... air electrode, 24 ... electrolyte, 25 ... interconnector, 26 ... protective film. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 3' Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] Air electrode, fuel electrode,
A cell is formed by stacking an electrolyte and an interconnector, and the cells are stacked with a spacer for passage of fuel gas or air interposed therebetween, and the fuel gas and air are passed through the base body or a region surrounded by the base body and the spacer, respectively. A solid electrolyte fuel cell module featuring: